State Farm funds youth outreach program

Knox College has been awarded a grant of $35,000 by the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to launch a “Junior Great Books” program that will link Knox College students with George Washington Gale Scholars at Galesburg High School and with elementary school students in kindergarten through fifth grade. ...

The Register-Mail

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Posted Feb. 23, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 23, 2010 at 10:16 PM

Posted Feb. 23, 2010 at 12:01 AM
Updated Feb 23, 2010 at 10:16 PM

GALESBURG

Knox College has been awarded a grant of $35,000 by the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to launch a “Junior Great Books” program that will link Knox College students with George Washington Gale Scholars at Galesburg High School and with elementary school students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Dubbed “Project GEM” — Galesburg Enrichment Mentoring — the initiative was designed by a team of Knox College students to support the high school students in the Gale Scholars Program and to introduce both high school and grade school students to in-depth study of literary classics.

The grant presentation from local State Farm Insurance Agents to Knox College representatives was held Monday in the Alumni Room at Old Main on the Knox campus.

“We want to address an achievement gap,” said Daniel Gonshorek, a Knox College junior who spearheaded the grant application. “We want more students to succeed in the Gale Scholars Program. We believe that mentoring is a crucial link in academic success at all levels, and mentoring that focuses on great works of literature and history will promote academic success for students at all levels — grade school, high school and college.”

The Gale Scholars Program identifies up to 15 eighth grade students annually who receive academic support and free tuition scholarships to Carl Sandburg College and Knox College. Among the program’s requirements is participation in community service.

“Participating in service learning through involvement in the Junior Great Books program will give Gale Scholars a greater appreciation for education and deepen the connections among all the students, their schools, the college and the community,” Gonshorek said.

Eleven Knox College students will work with 15 Gale scholars who will in turn lead the Junior Great Books program for up to 60 grade school students. The grant will provide funds for training from the Great Books Foundation for the Knox students and the Gale Scholars, transportation to the Knox campus for the Gale Scholars and the grade school students, stipends to enable the Knox students to stay on campus during the summer, and materials for all students in the project.

Stephen Schroth, assistant professor of educational studies, along with Stephen Bailey, professor of history and director of Knox’s Center for Research and Advanced Study, and Kathleen Ridlon, assistant professor of dance and director of Knox’s Center for Community Service, will serve as an unpaid advisory board for Project GEM.

Officials from District 205, Knox College, State Farm, and Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association also attended Monday’s presentation.